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SYLLABUS FOR LIBRARY SCIENCE 101: STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL RESEARCH |
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Units: 1 This course introduces students to methods of library research. The course focuses on how to find and evaluate information from print and non-print resources. Students will develop an annotated bibliography on a topic of their own choice. They will learn to explore reference sources to bring their topic into focus and to use online catalogs, periodical databases, and the Internet to find books, articles and Web sites on their topics. They will learn to evaluate these items according to their purpose, authority, relevance, accuracy, and currency. By the end of the course students will be able to:
Students will need to complete course requirements in an online environment and should begin the course with some computer literacy. They will also need to be self-motivated learners. Textbook: Stebbins, Leslie, F. Student Guide to Research in the Digital Age: How to Locate and Evaluate Information Sources. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2006. Print. This book is available full text in ABC-CLIO eBooks, an Ohlone Library database (available from off campus also). In addition you can buy it at the Ohlone College Bookstore. The ISBN number is 1591580994. This course is delivered using WebCT course management software. Information about this process is available at the Ohlone College Distance Learning Web site. Weekly topics & reading assignments Week one: successful research and the library. Introduction. Week two: evaluation of sources.
Finding reference articles. Week three: finding and selecting books. Library of Congress Subject Headings. Week four: finding and selecting periodicals. Boolean searching. Week five: searching the Internet.
Limitations and complexities of general Web searches. Week six: writing the bibliography. Review of citations and annotation. Each week includes the following assignments:
Please check the Course Calendar within WebCT for due dates for these assignments.
The final project is an annotated bibliography due at the end of this course. The bibliography must focus on a topic of your choice. For example, you could do your bibliography about a topic that you are writing a paper on for another class. You could also choose to explore research on an issue in your life that you need more information about. The bibliography will demonstrate your research skills: you should aim to find the best research on your topic. Any reader should be able to use your bibliography to become informed about your topic. The bibliography is graded as follows:
There is an example annotated bibliography on the course home page.
How to approach what you learn in this class We want to show you the different types of resources, as well as the different types of search strategies, that are available to you. This does not mean that every time you do research you need to use, for example, all of these strategies. It does mean though, that you will know that those options are out there, and you can try to use them if you are not finding what you want. The strategies and resources are like a tool box that you can open whenever you need to.
Please contact librarians@ohlone.edu with your questions, comments, and suggestions. Terms and Conditions of Use & Disclaimer. Copyright © 2009 Ohlone College. All rights reserved. |